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GUHAS MYTHIC ADVENTURES

P.S. Raakhee

Chapter 1 (Sample Chapter)

GUHAS SOLAR SOJOURN

Guha Shivkumar was the only 10-year-old who wasnt celebrating that Holy Day the start of

the two-month long summer vacation. What did he have to look forward to? No trip to the rabbit-

warren like ancestral home in Tirunelveli that was a pilgrimage centre for the whole nation

because Shakti pati who was a powerful miracle worker (although he had heard his parents

berate her as a witch and charlatan) was no more. No MENSA summer camp because Rajani

aunty had told his parents he needed time to grieve and most irritating no time with his parents

because they were extra busy in their private medical practice in the summer months and only

the Tamil-soap loving Ganga ayah for company. What had he done to offend his Shakti patisfavourite Gods for this hat trick of woes that had befallen him! What kind of a miracle worker

was she if she couldnt prevent her own death? While his van mates shouted Happy Holidays

at random strangers from the windows to celebrate the start of the summer vacations Guha

moped in the corner till it was his turn to get off. He barely responded to the cries of Happy

Holidays from the others as he trudged out, for a change unburdened by the ubiquitous heavy

backpack. No books to carry on the last day of school!

***

The busy medical practitioners Drs. Gauri and Shiv Kumar were out of the house at seven-thirty

the first day of the summer holidays despite it being a Sunday. There was a CME programme

they just couldnt miss. But they had woken up their son and broke fast with him. Not that it was

a favour Guha appreciated. Whoever would be up, bathed, dressed and breakfasted early on a

Sunday morning that too on the first official day of the summer vacation. His woes seemed

endless.

Ganga ayah was already glued to the TV set. There was a Rajnikanth movie that she wanted to

see for what seemed to be the 100th time. Glumly Guha climbed up to the terrace. With his

cheeks in his hands he sat on the terrace parapet going over the many misfortunes that has

befallen him since Shakti patis death after a lingering cold that turned out to be pneumonia had

snatched her away six months ago on Halloween.

Suddenly he heard a voice calling his name. He had thought he was alone. Turning around he

saw that indeed he was alonewho had called? Just then he felt it get extra hot. Thinking that a

cloud had moved off the Sun, Guha looked up and lo behold! What did he see? It looked to be a

comet heading straight for him. But it wasnt, within seconds he realized the unbelievable had

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Surya continued his tale, I may have a dysfunctional relationship with my sons Yama the god

of death and Shani the god of reaction to action but I would have reacted the same way. Vayu

sucked in all the air. He insisted that Hanuman be healed and as restitution that he be blessed

with unique boons from the gods before Vayud allow another grass to be swayed by a breeze

not to mention oxygen for creation. Thats how Lord Hanuman became Chiranjeevi the

immortal and undefeated.

Its high noon son, come have some food of the gods. My wife the beautiful Sanjana prepared it

herself. You wont get this chance again. This is another favour to your devout pati. She was a

great lady and youll achieve all that you were destined for if you but remember he sayings and

advice.

After an ambrosial lunch, Lord Surya dropped Guha back on the terrace at sunset. The moon

god will drop by early tomorrow morning to continue your celestial journey. Good bye Guha,

so saying the Sun god vanished.

Ganga glued to an improbable shootout scene was clueless about Guhas sojourn across the

skies. And what an adventure it was!